Advanced automation concept of runout table strip cooling for hot strip and plate mills

An advanced automation concept, based on operational experience with the classical concept, has been developed for the automation of cooling sections. An essential aspect is the use of the thermophysical process knowledge for setup calculation and for control during production. The cooling section is, therefore, regarded as a system through which unsteady energy flows. This system definition also allows the flexible use of the final control elements, since the temperature profile between the pyrometer of the finishing train and that of the coiler can be continuously calculated, i.e., observed during production and compared and controlled with a reference temperature profile. This has enormous advantages as the influence of process disturbances, e.g., by power speedup and speed down, is effective simultaneously at each point within the cooling section. The advanced control concept combines proven model technology with new features that provide a high degree of flexibility concerning dynamically changing process parameters and transient conditions. The advanced automation concept has already been implemented in the cooling section of two conventional hot strip mills.